Punjab: Defections won’t affect party’s support base, says AAP

Arora said that instead of building its own leadership and organisational base in the state, the BJP was inducting individuals who had already been suspended or distanced by other political parties over their conduct

Hours after three party MLAs switched to the BJP, AAP state president Aman Arora alleged that the saffron party had no leadership, agenda, or political base but wanted to win Punjab by inducting leaders facing allegations.

The AAP state chief’s remarks came after three party legislators – Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, Chetan Singh Jouramajra and Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh - joined the BJP on Monday. (HT File)

Arora said that instead of building its own leadership and organisational base in the state, the BJP was inducting individuals who had already been suspended or distanced by other political parties over their conduct. “The AAP has taken action against its own MLAs, while the BJP was welcoming them into its ranks,” he claimed in a statement. The AAP state chief’s remarks came after three party legislators – Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, Chetan Singh Jouramajra and Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh - joined the BJP on Monday.

Arora said the people of Punjab understood everything very well. “If the BJP believes that it can form a government in Punjab by relying on such individuals, it is nothing more than a Mungeri Lal Ka Haseen Sapna (daydreaming),” he said.

AAP spokesperson Neel Garg asked the BJP leaders to stop worrying about the AAP and instead focus on their own party’s declining political base and credibility. He said the trust of the people, their issues and the development of the state remain AAP’s biggest strengths, and no political defections can change that. Garg said the BJP should not mistake the departure of a few individuals for a loss of public support for AAP.